Encouraging Discouraged Worshippers

Haggai 2:1-9

Setting:  On October 17, 520 B.C. the people of God are depressed and complaining. They have moved from exile back to their home country, but it is not the same. The Temple, the center of worship and a symbol of the presence of God, remains unbuilt. The new proposed Temple pales in comparison to their former deluxe building. The negative contrasts preoccupy the conversations of the old timers who speak of the glories of the former days.

Haggai, the prophet, brings words from God:

1. “Be strong” (4).

2. “I am with you” (4).

3. “Don’t fear” (5).

4. “Be strong and work” (4).

5. “I will fill the temple with my glory” (7).

6. “I will grant peace” (9).

How mighty these words of encouragement apply in your setting in the coming year?

Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer

Don't Waste Your Christmas

This coming Sunday is the Sunday before Christmas, and while this is an amazing day for the church to celebrate the birth of Christ, it is also an opportunity for the church to boldly proclaim the good news to those who are unchurched.  Unfortunately, in many churches this will be a missed opportunity.

Statistics continue to declare that we are increasingly surrounded by the unchurched.  One of the latest articles I read from the Barna Group reports that there are roughly 156 million U.S. adults and children who are churchless.  That is a staggering number!  If they were a nation, they would be the eighth largest nation in the world!  And you can bet that there are thousands from my community and yours that contribute to that number.

While those numbers are alarming, I still find reason for hope.  I see evidence that many of the unchurched around us are still open to an invitation to church, especially at Christmas.  According to a study conducted by LifeWayResearch, “91 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas, including a majority of atheists, individuals claiming other religions, and agnostics or those with no religious preference.”  In addition to that, Dr. Thom Rainer writes that, “Eighty-two percent of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited."  What an amazing opportunity!

This past Sunday at One Life Church where I pastor, we had our annual Children’s Christmas Program.  It is one of the highest attended Sundays of the year and there are a high percentage of unchurched people in attendance.  I always take time to present the gospel even though I know most people are there to hear the kids instead of me.  This past Sunday six people responded to the message by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior!  Five out of six were individuals who were there because a friend invited them.

Christmas only comes around once a year; don’t miss this amazing opportunity to reach the unchurched.  Who should you invite to this Sunday’s Christmas service?  How about:

• Those who used to go to church, but no longer attend.
• Those who don’t attend church consistently.
• Those who have never attended church.

This Sunday we will celebrate Christmas.  It’s an amazing opportunity to point people to the Savior who was born for them.

“…for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  (Luke 2:11 NASB; italics mine)

Check out other helpful articles and tools on Vibrant Church Renewal and Evangelism.

What good is Christianity?

Brett Lawrence wrote an article in the Leadership Journal in the fall of 2002 describing the spirituality of Gen-Next in their twenties who are far from God. He addresses three questions Christians need to answer when dealing with this generation. The questions reveal the hearts and fears of this generation.

Question 3: What Good is Christianity?

This is a question of utility and relevance. Does Christianity have value to me? The concept is described in the article, "Does your belief change lives? Does your religion work? Does it help me, whether I'm in your group or not? Or are you just another self-serving group?" (Lawrence 5).

Answer 3: Christians are to demonstrate value in the context of the worldview which Gen Next live in. There is value in laying our life, finances, abilities, and aspirations to give a Gen Next person something. The article summarizes, "There is a fundamental call to Christians to be involved in generous compassion to the poor and the broken and the underprivileged. There's more in the Bible about justice and compassion than evangelism" (Lawrence 6).

My response: Listen to the arrogance of the perspective! Somebody is owed something. We have forgotten the Sovereignty of God. We can be instantaneously ground to dust, killed for our faith, or simply destroyed by our Creator for His glorification! What rights and privileges do we have, in the context for which we were actually created?

God recognizes only two types of people: the saved who believe in Christ Jesus and those who do not.  There is no distinction between man, woman, Jew, Gentile, freedman, slave, wealthy, poor, broken, or underprivileged. At the final judgment, Jesus separates those who have demonstrated the fruits of salvation. Those who are allowed in have participated in the works that God gave them after being saved by grace (Eph. 2:1-10). Those who enter see the kingdom of heaven not as some privilege or right, but as an incalculable valuable gift of pure unmerited mercy.

Aggregately, Christianity strives for peaceful order and benevolent goodwill. Often it has been subjugated by the worst of examples among followers. The demonstrated principles, doctrine, and dogma of Christianity are beneficial for any society willing to embrace the blessings of God.

This article shocked my thought process in a much-needed way and that was the point of the article. We need to think differently if we are to evangelize those whose context is different. Some see a generation of people that do not know what to believe, who to trust, and incapable of deciding what is truth. Every generation has been that way and it is likely that it will continue to be that way until Christ returns. As the holy context of the Bible remains unchanged and the world continues to devolve its context away from the plan of God, our ability to grasp and bridge the connection of the world context and the cross will become ever-increasingly difficult.

For more information on Vibrant Church Renewal and free resource visit our page here.

Lawrence, Brett. "Starbucks spirituality: postmoderns have three questions for Christians that you'd better be ready for." Leadership 23.4 (Fall 2002): p81. From Religion and Philosophy Collection. (2002). 3 December 2013.

Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer

Isn't that just your reality?

Brett Lawrence wrote an article in the Leadership Journal in the fall of 2002 describing the spirituality of Gen-Next in their twenties who are far from God. He addresses three questions Christians need to answer when dealing with this generation. The questions reveal the hearts and fears of this generation.

Question 2: Isn't that just your reality?

The spiritual smorgasbord is at work in this generation. You pick your reality and I will pick for me. According to the article, "You can't say either Christianity is true or it's false. Reality is also/and . . . They [early Christians] helped create the facts they observed, and then reported them out of their interpretation of reality. Scientists do that. Writers do that. Religious people like you do that" (Lawrence 4).

Article Answer 2: The "whatever works for you" mentality is a permanent perspective that has a chink in its armor. According to the article, "People are open to Jesus . . . They just don't consider him the only way. I try to engage them in who Jesus is and not that the others aren't correct."

My response: In the Gen Next population, relative reality is as insidious and as engrained a fact as the Theory of Evolution. It weakens the eternally true message of John 14:6 to one choice among many (touted equal) choices, much to the delight of the father of lies. He is working on many fronts: lifestyle choices, marriage choices, abortion is a choice, the Bible is just another book choice, etc. The approach to engage them in who Jesus is is reminiscent of Paul's address at the Athenian Areopagus about their altar to the unknown god.

Lawrence, Brett. "Starbucks spirituality: postmoderns have three questions for Christians that you'd better be ready for." Leadership 23.4 (Fall 2002): p81. From Religion and Philosophy Collection. (2002). 3 December 2013.

Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer

How can I trust you?

Brett Lawrence wrote an article in the Leadership Journal in the fall of 2002 describing the spirituality of Gen-Next in their twenties who are far from God. He addresses three questions Christians need to answer when dealing with this generation. The questions reveal the hearts and fears of this generation.

Question 1: How can I trust you?

In the turmoil of the life the Gen-Next has experienced there is distrust boiling within their being that places them at odds with everything else. They distrust authority. They dislike anyone telling them what is right, what is good for them, and what is allowed. Freedom-to-choose is their mantra for living. The article quotes Rick Richardson, "When people ask questions about homosexuality, for instance, we're tempted to think they're asking questions about right and wrong. But they're not. They're asking about dominance and oppression" (Lawrence 2).

Article Answer 1: The mistrust is often directed at Christians, not Christ. Our example is a bad one. We preach a loving God with condescension in our hearts, scorn in our eyes, and rules on our hands. Trust is built on actions, then words. We are called to proclaim and demonstrate the kingdom of God. According to the article, "Let people know you've heard them and that you have compassion for the hurts people experience" (Lawrence 4).

My response: This is an eye-opener with a mixed response. Jesus explained the issue of social benevolence in Mark 14:7 and Deuteronomy 15:11suggesting our opportunity to demonstrate God's mercy in our generation. I believe it is sad but true that Gen-Next has a "what's in it for me" mentality that is requisite in getting their attention. The adage, actions speak louder than words, rings true through all societies. When people share a meal, work together, recreate together, etc., one's life speaks more profoundly than one's mouth. It seems to be because of investment. In this world, words are easy but demonstrating a doctrine shows what you are.

Lawrence, Brett. "Starbucks spirituality: postmoderns have three questions for Christians that you'd better be ready for." Leadership 23.4 (Fall 2002): p81. From Religion and Philosophy Collection. (2002). 3 December 2013. 

Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer